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Water planners asking to remove plans for
Marvin Nichols |
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By LYNN MONTGOMERY | East Texas Edition |
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August 29, 2002 -- Opponents of the Marvin Nichols Reservoir got what they were waiting for at the Aug. 21 Region D water planning meeting. After receiving an Aug. 2 joint statement from U.S. Congressman Max Sandlin and State Representatives Barry Telford, Tom Ramsay, Bob Glaze and Mark Homer urging the removal of Marvin Nichols from the water plan, Tony Williams, chairman of the Region D Water Planning group said, "Based upon their request, we need to pay attention and be courtesy to the request, so I have asked the staff of the (Texas) Water Development Board (TWDB) what are the procedures for making a revision or an amendment to the water plan. As of this date, we do not have the exact ruling (from TWDB) but it is my understanding that we as a group are going to have to come up with a 'specific language' for a proposed amendment. It has to be very specific." The request was followed by applause and cheering from the crowd that filled the Upshur County Civic Center. Steps for removal, according to Walt Sears, administrator for the Region D group, are: specific language is needed on the proposed amendment, publishing the proposed amendment, give a 30-day notice for a public hearing, hold public hearing, 30-day period for public comment, ruling. Sears explained the plan is two phase: planning and implementation. "We are still in the planning stage," he said. "There is still reviewing and consideration in the plan in relation to Nichols. I am optimistic the board will be able to decide on the specific language needed for the amendment." Seven Region D members issued a signed agenda request, at the Aug. 21 meeting, asking consideration to remove Marvin Nichols from the water plan. The seven members also requested all notice requirements be done as soon as possible so the required public hearing may be held Oct. 9. Virginia Towles, TWDB project manager, is looking into posting board comment on the TWDB website. "We may be able to have an October hearing and make a decision in late November," Williams said. Members of the crowd exclaimed, "That's not quick enough." But, Williams quickly stated that the board was not going to due anything "unlawful" and that procedures would be followed. On the other hand, opponents do not need to be dancing in the river yet. There is a snag to this request. Just because Region D amends their plan, Marvin Nichols could still be built. "Removing the reservoir from Region D does not dictate that it will be removed from (Region) C and the State Water Plan," said Towles. Region C would have to amend their plan to remove Marvin Nichols as a water management strategy. If Region C decides to remove the reservoir, then they would have to submit that amendment to TWDB, who upon approval would amend the state water plan, according to Carla Daws, TWDB public information officer. Proponents, like the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), are willing to do whatever it takes to remove the proposed reservoir. The federation began running radio advertisements on Aug. 19 with the message to "draw attention to Marvin Nichols and the state water plan as a whole," according to John Hannah, communications manager in the NWF Austin office. "If the Dallas/Fort Worth area would implement the types of conservation efforts that cities like San Antonio and El Paso, then Marvin Nichols Reservoir would not be necessary." The spots, which are running on roughly 15 to 20 stations in about eight or nine counties, ask residents to call Lt. Gov. Bill Ratliff's office and voice their opinions about Marvin Nichols. "There has not been an overwhelming response to the ad," said Ratliff, from his Mount Pleasant office on Aug. 22. "About as many that went on the bus trip to Dallas." (On July 22, about 60 Northeast Texas residents were bused to the Region C meeting in Grand Prairie.) East Texas doesn't have enough political clout to beat the D/FW metroplex, according to Ratliff, and therefore must develop the reservoir to benefit East Texas, especially when the metroplex would pay 100 percent of all the cost to build the lake. "We (East Texas) need to develop this reservoir and do it in a manner that is beneficial to us, or Dallas will develop the reservoir to benefit them," Ratliff explained. "Dallas/Fort Worth would pay 100 percent of all the cost to build the lake, but they would only receive 80 percent of the water." "There is no use standing in front of the train," the lieutenant governor added. Other business at the Aug. 21 meeting was re-election of eight board members: Barry Boswell-Titus Co., John Bradley-Marion Co., Gerald Brewer-Wood Co., Larry Calvin-Delta Co., Maxie Chester-Rains Co., C. W. Forsyth, Jr.-Morris Co., David Parsons-Wood Co., and Vernon Rowe-Camp Co. The next meeting date is set for 2 p.m.,Sept. 18, at the Upshur County Civic Center in Gilmer. |
